Buddhism and New Generation

In a world that is increasingly dominated by the wonderful scientific progress, the lure of technological innovation and economic growth, we are under greed, hatred, tension, worry, despair and gloomy. Or we are stricken with the arrow of sorrow in some ways. Those mental sufferings prevent us to lead a happy and meaningful life and we have not yet found in those developments any remedy for it or relief from our most inner illness. The only effective remedy for these mental problems lies in our individual capacity to treat ourselves. The Buddha’s teaching is of great value not for curing these illnesses only but also to uproot the causes of our suffering once and for all if we have energy, wisdom, and perseverance. The Dhamma helps and encourages everyone who faces the problem to consider and tackle it peacefully in day-to-day life. Actually, the Buddha points out the royal road to freedom from all unnecessary suffering. It is based on mutual understanding, respect, love and compassion. The Dhamma is, therefore, near to us and our needs.

However, many of us in the society nowadays have regard Buddhism as merely a symbol of cultural and ethnic identity and we have almost forgotten to see it beyond that. If we let it go, it is going to lose touch with that vital human drive to seek the remedy in the Dhamma to possess a meaningful life. This should not be so. In order for the Buddha's teachings to be passed on to the next generation, we have responsibility and need good will to help them understand the essential teachings of the Buddha and to put them earnestly into practice taking them hand and hand, and to lead them to a happy and peaceful life in the society by setting an example of kindness and compassion.

So we have to encourage the youth to learn the teaching of the Buddha first and lead them into practice at the same time. In fact, careful study of the Buddha’s teaching is essential for our lives if we develop understanding correctly. Secondly, to find the remedy for mental suffering we have to put it into practice. Equipped with an understanding and practice, we can begin to see the world with more heartfelt clarity and greater equanimity. As a result, we will possess a greater skill in creating happy and peaceful lives.